Cabletron Systems SFCS-200WG - Manual (Page 16)

1-2
Introduction
communication) to be switched to multiple destinations by fast ATM switches
such as the
Cabletron 9A000 and SFCS series (connecting up to 64 workstations
with an aggregate capacity of 2.5 Gbps or 96 workstations running at 100
Mbps). Larger LANs can be built by interconnecting multiple
9A000 and SFCS
series ATM switches.
Based upon international standards developed by the CCITT, ATM allows for
fast packet switching of cells, 53 bytes in length. By using small cells to trans-
fer data, coupled with a low latency switch supporting isochronous timing,
ATM is able to support a wide range of audio, video, image, and data com-
munications requirements.
Unlike shared-medium LAN technologies such as Ethernet and Token Ring,
in which users must contend for bandwidth, ATM switching provides dedi-
cated, deterministic, high-speed connectivity. In addition, ATM is scalable
from 155 Mbps to 2.5 Gbps - to the desktop, or for the entire network.
1.2 Hardware Description
The 9Cabletron 9A000 and SFCS series ATM switches, as shown in Figure 1-1
and Figure 1-2, provide connectivity for up to 16 computer workstations,
hubs, or routers at rates operating up to 622 Mbps/sec (or 24 workstations
running at 100 Mbps) via dedicated fiber optic links and twisted pair links.
Wide-area network (WAN) connectivity is seamlessly integrated into the
9A000 and SFCS series for connection to private networks or ATM SONET,
DS-3, DS-1, E-3, or J-2 services.
Interconnecting multiple 9A000 and SFCS series switches at various speeds is
simple. Once a new 9A000 and SFCS series switch is added to the network,
all other switches recognize its presence and dynamically establish connec-
tions to ports on the new switch. Furthermore, scaling the network is accom-
plished without costly and time consuming address reconfiguration and LAN
segmentation.
The 9A000 and SFCS series is a self-contained ATM switch that includes an
Ethernet connection to provide network management access.